Inflatable, double-walled resuscitation garment



y 10, 1962 E. s. MENDELSON 3,043,292

INFLATABLE, DOUBLE-WALLED RESUSCITATION GARMENT Filed June 26, 1959 24g3 W Z2 Z6 J INVENTOR. .5 74/ U52/%71z 560/ MLIQA l rroPX/s/ iinitedStates Fatent @flflce 343,Z9Z V Patented July 10,- 1962 INFLATABLE,DOUBLE-WALLED RESUSCITA- TION GARMENT Emanuel S. Mendelson, Telford, Pa,assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretaryof the Navy Filed June 26, 1959, Ser. No. 823,265

3 Ciairns. (Cl. 12830) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to devices for facilitating artificialrespiration in the human body and particularly to chest respirators.

Ordinarily, chest respirators are concave shells that form an air tightchamber between the chest and the shell. Alternating positive andnegative pressures applied in the chamber cause the chest to be forcedinwardly and outwardly, as in breathing. The shell functions as areaction member, for which purpose it must be sufficiently rigid toprevent it from being forced substantially out of shape by the changesin pressure that take place in the chamber. Necessary rigidity issupplied by making the shell of firm materials like sheet metal,plastics, etc.; but, although satisfactory for the purpose'ofresuscitation, their rigidity and bulk limit the extent to which theycan be worn with any degree of comfort as a precaution against a quickneed for artificial respiration. Usually they are worn by the patientonly during the time in which artificial respiration is being applied,and while he is in a supine position.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a new andimproved chest respirator which is suitable for wear by an ambulatingwearer.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a collapsible,inflatable, flexible chest respirator capable of being worn as anordinary garment when collapsed and readily inflatable to rigidity forthe application of artificial respiration while the patient is in asupine or other position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the descriptionof the invention when read in connection with accompanying drawings, inwhich FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing therespirator collapsed and worn by a patient;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows the respirator inflated.

In a general way, the invention comprises a double Walled, inflatableshell or casing made of flexible, impermeable material adapted toenclose a portion of the body, as the thoracic area, for the applicationof artificial respiration. The walls or panels of the shell are securedto each other at numerous points in a symmetrical pattern. Positivepressure introduced between the walls of the shell tends to extend itlengthwise into a stiffened form. Straps passed around the back of thebody hold it thereto. The stiffened shell is used as a reaction memberfor cycling pressure.

The principle on which the shell stitfens or becomes rigid harks back tothe law relating pressure, wall tension, and radii; e.g., within a fluidfilled distensible tube of circular cross-section and infinite length,as a balloon, pressure affects wall tension inversely with the radius.The length of the shell in this invention is substantially greater thanthe distance separating the panels; therefore, its tendency to extendlengthwise will be greater than it is to widen. Consequently, itstiifens upon inflation.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a form of the invention is shown in whichthe respirator is generally indicated by the numeral 10. It comprises aninflatable shell or casing 12 designed to cover a desired portion of thebody, as, the chest, and to assume a dished or concave shape uponinflation. The casing 12 has two panels, an inner panel 14 and an outerpanel 16, of suitable material which is fiexible and air impermeable. Arubber coated fabric is considered satisfactory. The peripheral edges 17of the panels 14- and 16' are joined together by an adhesive,vulcani'zing or other suitable means so as to form an inflatable chamber18 between the panels. At numerous points, 20, the panels, 14 and 16,are fastened together in a suitable manner, the purpose of which will beapparent hereinafter. preferred that fastening points 20 be uniformlyspaced according to a pattern, for instance,.parallel rows of evenlyspaced points that are staggered in relation to those in adjacent rows.

A peripheral portion 21 of the casing 12 is inwardly turned underitself, the edges 17 thereby being well under the inner panel 14 alongwith a part of the inflatable chamber 18. The portion 21 provides ameans of sealing the casing 12, upon inflation, to the body of thepatient.

Chamber 18 is connected to a suitable source of fluid pressure 22, e.g.,a carbon dioxide container, by a conduit 24. A conventional valve 26attached to conduit 24 provides a means for controlling the inflation ofchamber 18 from the source 22; a second valve 23 is included for itsdeflation.

A tube 28 extends through both panels 14 and 16 of the casing 12orificing in the chamber '19 between the inner panel 14 and the body ofthe patient.

A source of cycling fluid pressure is connected to the tube 28; it maybe a motor driven apparatus or a suitable, manually operated device likethe bellows 31 shown schematically. The latter is preferred for maximumportability.

Straps 32 having ends 33 and 34 secured to opposite sides of outer panel16 of the casing 12, as by stitching, not shown, are adapted to extendaround the patient and to be joined by an adjustable buckle 36, toprovide a means for holding the casing on the body.

The respirator is designed to be worn conveniently in a collapsedcondition either over or under the clothing of the patient, since itflattens substantially completely (FIG. 2) and is flexible. When donned,it is readily inflated by opening the valve 26. The casing 12 thereupontakes a rigid concave form (FIG. 3), since the extent of relativeseparation of the panels 14 and 16 is limited by the fastening points20. The turned-under portion 21 is pressed against the body by theinflating pressure within chamber 18 sealing the chamber 19 between theinner panel 14 and the body. Alternating positive as well as negativepressure may then be applied to the covered part of the body bysequentially compressing and expanding the bellows 31, since the chamber19 is air tight and the casing 12, stiffened on inflation and held inplace by the straps 32, provides an effective reaction member. Thedevice is deflated by opening the valve 23. As is apparent, therespirator may be readily operated by a patient in a variety of posturesand circumstances.

It will be understood that it is not intended to limit this invention bytheories offered to explain it, and that many of the elements, as thebellows, the valves, etc. are 1 I of usual construction and well knownin the art; they may or may not be of the type shown and described inillustrating the invention. Consequently, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description, or shown in the accompanyingdrawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not ina limitingsense.

As shown, it is Obviously many modifications and variations of thepresent invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Itis therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appendedclaims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed.

What is claimed is: r

t 1. A chest respirator comprising a collapsible, inflatable casingadapted to cover the thoracic area of the 1 body, said casing, being ofsubstantially'rectangular and linear construction and having a pairofsuperimposed panels of flexible, air impermeable material, said panelsbeing secured to eachother at their peripheral edges to form aninflation chamber therebetween and a peripheral portion of said casingincluding part of said inflation chamber being turned under thereof toform a seal be tween the body and said casing upon inflation thereof, aplurality of uniformly spaced means securing said 5 panels to each'otherat various'points thereof, means for introducing ffluid pressure intosaid chamber between said panels whereby said casing becomes rigid andassumes 4 secured to each other at their peripheral edges to form a aninflation chamber therebetween and a peripheral portion of said casingincluding part of said inflation chamher being turned under thereof toform a seal between the'wearers body and said casing upon inflationthereof, a source of gas under pressure including valve means forcontrolled release of said gas, conduit means communicatively connectingsaid source of gas to said chamber for inflation of said casing, aplurality of means securing 'said panels to each other at uniformlyspaced points and in parallel rows so that said separation of saidpanels is restricted with inflation of said chamber and said casingassumes a rigid concave shape above .said thoracic area, strap meansattached to said casing for securing said casing onsaid wearer, meansfor producing an alternating fluid pressure, and conduit meanscommunicatively connecting said later means through said casing to saidthoracic area thereunder whereby a pulsating pressure may be appliedbetween said respirator and said thoracic area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,676,587 Corcoranf, April 27, 1954' 2,833,275 Tunniclifie May 6, 19582,853,998 Emerson Sept. 30, 1958 2,869,537 Chu Jan. 20, 1959 2,399,955Huxley Aug. 18, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,744

